Executive Q&A from Fenwick & West LLP

Stats

1. Total number of attorneys: 311
a. Number of partners: 69
b. Number of of counsel: 8
c. Number of associates: 226
d. Number of lawyers working part-time: 5
3. Please provide the number of attorneys in each office:
Palo Alto -- 252; San Francisco -- 51; DC -- 7; Idaho -- 1
4. Please provide the number of attorneys working in each firm practice area:
Litigation -- 85; Corporate -- 119; Intellectual Property -- 87; Tax -- 20
5. Number of summer associates: 69
a. Expected number of full-time employment offers: 64
7. Minimum billable hour requirement: 1800

1. What are some of the most interesting new developments at the firm?

We recently broke ground on a new six-story office building to be built at 400 Castro Street, in Mountain View, California. The projected date of occupancy is the first quarter of 2002. This building will be in addition to (and not in replacement of) our existing ten-story building in Palo Alto.

Our San Francisco office has experienced rapid growth over the past year. We moved into new space at Embarcadero Center West and now have over 50 lawyers practicing out of our San Francisco office.

2. Please briefly describe two notable recent deals the firm has worked on:

We represented VeriSign, Inc. in their $17 billion acquisition of Network Solutions, Inc. At the time, it was the largest Internet-related deal ever announced. We negotiated one of the most highly anticipated initial public offerings of the year in the midst of an extremely volatile market when we represented chip manufacturer Transmeta Corp. in their landmark IPO in November of 2000.

3. Please briefly describe two notable recent litigation matters the firm has worked on.

We are counsel to Napster in numerous disputes over the use of their technology. We are counsel to Atmel Corp. in a patent infringement case involving multiple parties.

4. Please briefly discuss your firm's pro bono initiatives:

This year we won a judgment in excess of $1 million on behalf of female inmates in the Santa Clara County prison system, who were subject to prolonged harassment by prison guards. We continue to actively participate in pro bono efforts to bring legal services to underprivileged areas of Palo Alto and San Jose.

a. Do pro bono hours count toward billing requirement or associate bonuses?

Up to 50 hours of pro bono work considered "billable."

5. How is the firm management organized?

We are a registered California Limited Liability Corporation. The firm's management consists of a 4 member management committee, which is overseen by a firm chairman, and a non-lawyer Chief Administrative Officer. The firm also has a separate compensation committee.

6. What types of personalities thrive at your firm?

Dynamic professionals, open, collegial, and intelligent.

7. Please describe training for new associates:

Weekly educational seminars in all practice areas. Substantial early client responsibility. Videotaped deposition training. Client development and management seminars for mid-level associates.

8. How are associates assigned to departments?

Associates are not formally assigned to departments. They self-select a practice group based on their interests. Furthermore, Fenwick has a "free-market" system of assignments.

9. What perks and benefits do attorneys at your firm receive?

Mortgage assistance; two-tier system of billable hours; Maui Condo; Weekend Getaways (Mexico & Napa); free-market system; discretionary bonuses; associate investment program; emergency childcare; pet insurance.

10. Does the firm offer maternity/paternity leave?

Yes.

11. What is your firm's recruiting process?

All applications are logged into Recruiting database, screened by coordinator, sent to practice group head for review based on credentials and hiring needs, and either invited in for a round of interviews or notified if we have no interest.

12. At which schools does the firm participate in on-campus recruiting?

Most of the first tier law schools (Top 25) and a few from second tier law schools (Top 50). We also participate in the on-campus interview programs at Santa Clara and Franklin Pierce, in addition to several consortiums and conferences.

13. What advice would you give to someone interviewing at your firm?

Enthusiasm for our firm and practice is important. We also look for candidates who are self-starters, seeking a challenging and flexible work environment.

14. Please describe your firm's diversity recruitment and retention programs.

We participate in local and regional minority recruitment programs. The Management Committee continually seeks opportunities specifically directed at retaining diverse and non-traditional partnership candidates. These benefits range from providing alternative work schedules to career development programs.

15. Please describe your firm's diversity recruitment and retention programs.

We participate in local and regional minority recruitment programs. The Management Committee continually seeks opportunities specifically directed at retaining diverse and non-traditional partnership candidates. These benefits range from providing alternative work schedules to career development programs.

16. What is the main focus of your firm's summer associate program?

For a Summer Associate to actively seek out work that interests her/him from a variety of practice groups. We do not have a rotation system, and we have a flexible approach toward working across practice groups. While some Summer Associates have a specific practice group interest that does not change, many of our Summer Associates choose to sample a variety of Corporate, Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Tax work. Fenwick & West's "free-market system" offers extraordinary flexibility in fashioning your own workload and developing your practice.